IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3212, 6 May 1911, Page 7

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

THE VETO BILL.

LABORITE AMENDMENT DE-

FEATED

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LONDON, May, 4. Mr. Barnes’ amendment for the; rejection of tlie preamble to the Veto Bill was defeated by 218 to 47. The Opposition abstained from voting. Mr. Barnes said that the elected second, chambers of the- dependencies were more obstructive than tlie hereditary House of Britain. Tlie scheme foreshadowed by the Government would involve Parliament and the country in a long and bitter controversy, during which the Government might be destroyed. THE PREMIER. ON SECOND CHAMBERS.

Mr. Asquith said they could not rest with a second chamber as at present oonstiutted. He was satisfied that in the interest of any deimoeratis country a second chamber was desirable, provided it was clothed with definte limited lines, nowise competing as an organ of the popular will, with elected representation of the people, and invested with functions of revision. Consultation and delay the Government considered obligatory. Time permitting they •proposed to present to Parliament a . scheme of reform of the Lords under the Veto Bill.

LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION ON • '• THE same.

Mr. Balfour declared that consultation, revision and delay ought to he. the Lords’ main function. Lie deprecated the Commons holding the destinies of the country.

THE BILL THROUGH COMMITTEE. The Bill passed the committee by 265 to 147.

The “Times’’ suggests that many Ministerialists favor passing the Opposition’s Reform of the House of Lords Bill on condition that the Veto Bill be applied to the reformed Chamber. PAYMENT OF MEMBERS. Unionist members of the House of Common© have decided to oppose the Payment of Members Bill. THE FEMALE SUFFRAGE QUESTION,

DIVISION IN THE CABINET. Mr. Asquith, speaking in the House of Commons, said he had received the Australian Senate’s resolution declaring that female suffrage had acted beneficially in Australia, He regretted the minds of the Government were still divided regarding the expediency of female suffrage.